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The Voice of The Negro 
In South Carolina 



^ 




POEMS 



BY 
Edwin Posey 



^ 



4 



The Voice of The Negro 
In South Carolina 




POEMS 

BY 
Edwin Posey 



Price 25 Cents 



The Crescent Printing: Co. 
Columbia, S. C. 



^^, 



Copyright 

1917 

B^ Edwin Posey 



/ 

OCT 12 1917 

DCI.A476544 
-1^1 



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\ 



TO MY MOTHER 



CONTENTS 



Introduction 

An Invitation to Workers 17 

A Voice of the Youth 19 

A Word to Boys 20 

An Orphan Cry in South Carolina 21 

A Voice of the Weak .....23 

For the Sake of Our Children 25 

Good Luck and What it is in South Carolina 26 

How We Build the Temple 29 

If We Only Understood 30 

Just A Word To You 32 

New Year - 35 

Our Duty To Our Country 36 

Ode To The South Carolina Teacher 37 

South Carolina, My Birth Place 39 

Safety First , 40 

Success And How It Comes 41 

The Roses of Dixie 43 

The Country Store 45 

Time 46 

To The Front 47 

The South Carolina Negroes Voice 48 

Truth 49 

The Church in South Carolina.. 50 

What We Have To Be Thankful For 52 

When I Grow To Be A Man 54 



11 



Pref 



ace 



THE contents of this little volume m:a5^ not altogether agree 
with its title, but T have striven to make it as near so 
as possible. lu the writinj^f of this message (The Voice 
of the Negro) I have invoked the guidance of Almighty 
God that I may speak for my people, the Negro race. 

I have not tried to tell of all our achievements, which 
have been wonderful and marvelous, because much has 
been said along that line. But as the title so have we tried 
to be in our verses, a voice asking our race to be more co- 
operative, a voice of gratitude, a voice making known our 
desires to become acquainted with little things, the voice we 
hope will be to our race the one thing needful— inspiration. 
I find that with all of our achievements'that we are quite a 
distance from our desired goal. As one of the early prophets 
has truly said, "There is much ^and yet to be possessed. 

In presenting this book to the reading public I have im- 
plored the blessings of God upon it, that it may lift the ideais 
of our people, that their hearts may be lifted up and made to 
rejoice over past, present and future things that have helped 
and will continue to uplift our people in general. 

God hasten on the da^^ when we as a race shall regain all 
of our lost virtues that we haven't regained yet, when the 
spirit of co-operation, as other good things, have in the past, 
shall begin at the house of the Lords. If, we, as a race knew 
the worth of co-operation, as we should, no longer would our 
business enterprises and professional men have to struggle to 
succeed. May you read this book with pleasure and profit; 
may your confidence in the race grow; may the other races 
of the land hear our cry and give us the same privileges that 
have been given other races of the land. May they learn to 
know that we have some virtues along with our vices. Fin- 
ally, last, but not least, may theyieari/ to magnify our good 
work as the evil is sometime magnified. 

Hdwin Posey 

Johnston, S. C. 
March 12, 1917. 

13 



An Invitation To Workers. 



To the man that has foundation 
To the one that stands upright 

To the one fears not temptation 

And the one trusts in God's mig^ht 



To the One that lives for others 
To the one that lives for Christ 

To the one that loves his brother 
And the one lives pure in life. 



South Carolina needs you now 
Just as others I expect 

We will show the world just how 
We the sinfulness will check. 



Now the fields are ripe and ready 
Will you come and work today? 

Here your job is ever steady 

Come and help us catch the stray 



17 



South Carolina has some good men 
And she naeds quite a few more 

It will not be until then 

You will have peace at your door. 



Then the will if great and small men! 

Will become the will of God's 
We will sing the songs and anthems 

Of the way our Fathers trod. 



Then a little child shall lead them 
Both the lion and the lamb 

And their praise shall be the omeu 
To God who is the great I amc 



18 



A Voice Of The Youth. 



Wliei) I grow to be a man 

A farmer, I shall be if I can 
I will raise produce improve the land 

And never use a moving van. 

Second Boy 

When I grow to be a man 

A merchant I shall be if I can 

I'll fill my store with goods from the East 
And once a year give the poor a feast. 

Third Boy. 

When I grow to be a man 

A doctor I shall be if I can 
I'll visit both the great and small 

And give my best attention to all. 

Fourth Boy. 

When I grow to be a man 
A minister I shall be if I can 

I'll visit the sick reprove the wicked 
And scare the evils away from the thickets. 

All in concert. 

We little men have come to tell 

About our aims in life 
We hope that each will succeed well 

Then marry each a wife. 



19 



A Word To Boys. 



Tobacco and drinks are not for boys 
They cannot take the place of t6ys 
They often make the day seem long 
And someiimes do the young men wrong. 



To school every day on time 

And with the other young men shime 

Each is trying to do the best 

All of them want to stand the test. 



The test of life that come to all 

The noble great and the small 

They '11 come to you some day young man 

So fortify yourself to stand. 



Obey your mother first at home 
And you will have no desire to roam 
Thus following in the tracks of Christ 
And yours will be a well spent life. 



20' 



An Orphan's Cry In S. C. 



O ut in the streets in the rain and snow 
Out where the wintry's wind doth blow 
Out in a world surrounded by g:uile 
O its some poor motherless child. 



Out of a home wheie mother once knew 
Out in a world that's never true 
In a land of sin, of sorrow a while 
Indeed it must be a motherless child. 



Out of a home where the Bible was read 
Out in a world where millions dread 
1 hear a faint weeping out in the Isle 
It makes me think of a motherless child. 



Out in a world of strife and sin 
Out in a country where gamblers win 
Out in a world that gives no smile 
This is the fate of a motherless child. 



21 



Out in the city strolling the lane 

Striving for a living but all in vain 

Is clad in thin clothes that never was style 

Yes, this is the experience of a motherless child 



I wonder why no one cares for me? 
I wonder can I this condition flee 
I wonder if I am an African wild 
Or its because I'm a motherless child? 



This question hasp-izzled me for some >ears 
And a many times I have shed briny tears 
I would to God I was on some isle 
Than to be in this world a motherless child 



But bye and bye when hopes were gone 
There came the minister with a song 
He stooped and lifted me with a smile 
Rescued the down-trodden motherless child. 



22 



A Voice Of The Weak 



In the State of South Carolina 
In the State I love so well 
In the State of John C. Calhoun 
Is the story I'm going to tell. 



O thou far famed South Carolina 
Thou whose fame has crossed the seas 
Thy constitution we know well, 
How can vou be so much at ease? 



When there are here in South Carolina 
Some things that you doubtless know 
But for fear you're not informed 
One or two I'm going to show. 



In the State of South Carolina 
There are many boys and girls 
Who if they were properly trained 
Would make good citizens in this world 



23 



The school terms of dear South Carolina 
Are from ten back to three months 
Now you know we all belong here 
So please help us much as once. 



Let us lengthen out the short terms 
Let the others remain the same 
If you'll do this Sonth Carolina 
You'll add laurels to your fame. 

If you would make our State richer 
And place it on a higher plane 
Let us stop so much complaining 
For its time to make a change. 



In the place of wicked prisons 
I think a school would do 
It would help to change conditiong 
And help all men to be true. 



Then the time that we've long looked for 

Our fathers longed to see 

It will come if South Carolina 

Will set all her children free. 



24 



For The Sake of Our Children. 



For the sake of our children 

We should stand for what is rig^ht 

We should help each other then 

We would save some ones sad plight. 

For the sake of our children 

We should send them all to school 

There would be no room you see then 
For the folks to call us fools. 

For the sake of our children 
We should shape their lives while youngs 
We should put high ideals in them 
And our good works will be sung. 

For the good of our children 

South Carolina, should come first 

It was God who praised their anthems 
South Carolina gave them birth. 



25 



Good Luck and What It Is 
In S. C. 



If you happen to make good 

In the arena of life 

If you happen not to marry 

But one woman for your wife 

You can often hear folks talking 

About the luck you had in life 

You can hear some of them say 

That you even had it twice 

vSome will say some of your kin folks 

Simply left you all the pluck 

And in many other ways 

That no sound mind could justify 

Is the story they are telling 

And the way they testify 

But my friends I'm here to tell you 

That there is no luck on earth 

For the lazy man or woman 

Who's forver dodging work 



26 



But the luck that's in this world 

Comes in proportion as you work 

And my friend the lazy man 

It don't visit those who shirk 

The men who make great discoveries 

They are always on the job 

They keep close to mother's nature 

There her secrets are not odd. 

Take a look in the modern world 

And see the change has taken place 

We see the white man and the Negro 

All are keeping forward pace; 

When we see the mighty steamships 

See the mighty railroad trains 

And the wonderful wireless telegraph 

Don't you think some brains are strained? 

Now we have the Aeroplane 

The giant German submarine 

In the state of South Carolina 

There are those have been trained. 

They were trained in our schools 

How to serve the present age. 

There they learned to know all men 

And to never get discouraged 

Lawyers, Doctors, and our teachers 

And the ministers of the gospel 

They and many others whom 

Time and space fails me to tell. 



27 



And my friends will you yet tell me 
That all of this is luck too? 
Now my friends I'm here to tell you 
That it takes some good brains too; 
Those who would build up a fortune 
Are those who desire fame. 
The price of it they'll surely pay 
If they win in life's great game- 
The price of it is sleepless nights, 
Restless days and always fight 
Believe yourself that you can win 
Trust in God with all your might 
When folks come around talking luck 
Tell them all to go their way 
For you know now for yourself 
That such luck will not do this day. 
When you make this resolution 
Problems swift will disappear 
And if service is your text 
Duty to you will be dear. 



2S 



How We Build The Temple 



We build the temple day by day 
Like Solomon did of old we say 

We build upon the solid ground 
So when it rains we'll still be found. 

We build the Temple day by day 
The Holy Temple of the Lord 

That we may woiship at His feet 
And Live forever humble and meek 

We build the Temple day by day 
By the good deed and words we say 

Then let us try to do our best 
The Temple then will stand the test. 

Wc build the Temple day by day 
We hope and trust all will say 

We thank Thee for the Temple Lord 
And for thy Holy written Word. 

(The Truth Tune) 

29 



If We Only Understood 

If we only understood 

Each other as we often think 
We would sometime do some good 

And put in the missing link, 
We would sometime work for others 

And deny ourselves we could 
We would lift our fallen broihers 

If we only understood. 



We could stop so much complaining 

Of our weakness here below 
We would go to those who 're waning 

And to them our service show 
We could feast on better things 

That are stored up for the good 
We could go where angels sing 

If we only understood. 



30 



If we knew more of ourselves 
And not so much of our brother 

We could take some of our wealth 
And give to the needy others, 

Could we learn or see the best 

And to do it then we would 

Now a change would be the rest 

If we otily understood. 

If we knew what we were made for 

Or we knew what duty meant 
There we'd start to doing service or 
We'd say I slept and drempt. 
Before we return to dust 
We would do it if we could 
We could bring the world to Jesus 
If we only understood 



■' 31 



Just A Word To You 



just a word to you my friend 

Just a word of love 

Is the message that I bring 

From my home above. 

Just a word of mothers advice 

It is all to you 

If you will accept it now 

Just a word will do. 



Just a word to you my son 
For you'll need it every bit. 
It is from your loving mother 
And she wants you to heed it; 
Just a word of consolation 
To the heart thats broken thru 
To the one that needs consoling 
Just a word to you. 



32 



To the one whose burdens heavy 
To the one that cares have worn 
To the one that trials many 
Have come often as the morn. 

To the one whose life's been well spem 
And the one that has wept too 
Its the man that knows your sorrow 
That has sent the word to you. 

To the man thats in the trenches 
To the one thats on the hill 
To the one that heeds the Gospel 
And believes we should not kill. 

To the one that reads the Bible 
To the one that searched it thru, 
To the man that has decided 
It is just a word to you. 



33 



Just a word to all man kind 
Just a word to the human race 
Who every one some distant day 
Must stand before the Master's face; 
It is a word from Jesus 
Its the onh' word will do 
Its the word that saved a nation 
It is just a word to you. 

Just a word to you I bring 
That will cheer a weary traveler 
Tell the man that in his sins 
Of the love of God the Father; 
Tell the man that don't know Christ 
In the pardon of his sins 
Christ is ready to for ^^ive 
Just a word to you my friends-. 



34 



"New Year" 

New Year's day is here at last 
It really came but not so fast 
We like to greet it then we say 
This is happy New Year's day. 

Only a few of us have thought 
Of the lessons that last year taught 
But let us not forget the cost 
Then our souls will not be lost 

The New Year brings us many things 
That is why we always sing 
It brought some of the same old cares 
That have prevailed in former years. 

It brought its sorrows and its woes 
And left our enemies and our foes 
It brought new duties to all men 
And God's command to never sin. 

Thus I hope we all will see 
That New Year means more than glee 
It means more work more sacrifice 
It means for us to better life. 



35 



Our Duty To Our Country 



Every man should love his country 
Whether he be white or black 
For we live inthe nineteenth century 
And we ope to never retrack. 

There's a duty that we owe 
Both to God and our brothtr 
Whether it be friend or foe 
We should strive to help the others. 



Let us love our country then 
Work and make conditions better 
Let us be true to all men 
Whether free or bound in fetter^^ 



36 



Ode to The S. C. Teacher 

To the South Carolina teacher 
Those who teach in Negro schools 
Those who listen to the preacher 
And their life is used a tool. 

To the one that does his best 
Whether encouraged or not 
To the one has stood the test 
And takes service for his lot. 

To the one that works for others 
Denying himself just like the Christ 
He's the one can lift his brothers 
From the depths to nobler heights. 

You shall have encouragement 
And our cooperation too 
Its to you my pen is lent 
It is just a word to you. 



37 



You are doing a noble work 
Training boys and girls for service 
Learning them to never shirk 
Their duty if its sacrifice. 

The destiny of the Negro race 
It is in the teachers hand 
You are keeping us in pace 
With the races of the land. 

You are making great and good men 

Out of little common boys 

You are helping them to look in 

Where there is something better than toyi. 

I know you need cooperation 
From the people of our race 
I know you have some oppoi^ition 
In your home or any place 

But if you are doing a good work 
If you're sure that you're doing good 
Remember that they would never shirk 
If they only understood. 



38 



South Carolina My Birth Place. 



Ill the old Palmetto State 
Is where I first saw the light 
It is where I learned to rate 
And to figure and to write. 

Here I learned about the schools 
And the way that things go on 
Here I learn the golden rule 
To never leave the right for wrong. 

South Carolina's small in area 
But she's great in possibilities 
We welcome all to keep a dairy 
And utilize our school facilities. 

South Carolina like other States 
Makes some mistakes now an i then 
But she has helped all the races 
That have made their home therein. 

South Carolina has some great men 

Who should be praised with tongue and pen 

If their voice was heard tomorrow 

There would be less sin and sorrow. 



39 



**Safety First" 



Safety first, it I believe 
Every man on earth should 
To your loved ones you are dear 
And the end is always near. 

Never risk yourself too much 
Thinking, harm you'll never touch 
For the danger's always near 
And there's trouble everywhere. 

Many a man has heeded too, 
And since their lives have been true, 
All the good men of the earth 
Knows the slogan, "Safety First.'' 

Safety first when you are born 
And you'll avoid much of the harm 
That comes in the average life 
And makes our mothers sacrifice. 



40 



Success And How It Comes- 



There are some of us who wonder 
Of the success of our brother 
And the thought in my mind ponders 
If he has deprived the others. 



Then I think a little higher 
In the realm of the just 
See and know the mighty power 
That to man our God has trust. 



Now I think a little different 
Of the Way that success comes 
Its the one that knows the contents 
Its the one the journey runs. 



4i 



Its the one thats always boosting 
The good deeds of any brother 
Its the man thats always setting 
Good Example for the other. 

Its the man that does not envy 
Progress any where on earth. 
To the one that not deny 
Success starts right at your birth. 

Now my friend don^t think as I 
Think yonr chance is not as good, 
For the top you could aspire 
If you only understood. 



42 



The Roses of Dixie, 



Sing: a song about the roses 
That have lately shed their blooms, 
That have took their sweet repose 
And we too must follow soon. 

They were planted in the garden 
Where the water lilly grows 
And ware watered often when 
The evening stiu its shadow throws. 

On the west side of the plant bed 
Where the children use to play- 
There their pretty buds were red 
Giving fragrance every day. 



43 



I have often sat and wondered 
Where they got their fragrance from 
And the thought in mind pondered 
'Twas they got it from the sun. 

For 'tis when the son is setting 
Far behind the western liills 
That the flowers are begetting 
Beauty from its Master stilL 

And the rose is our flower 
Its the one I love so well 
Gives its fragrance every hour 
That the children like to smell. 



44 



The Country Store. 



T remember years ago 

Just before the break of mourn 

Paying a visit to a country store 

Over tlie hills from our home. 

The store was owned by a colored man 

As plump as a butter ball 

I wish you could see him as T can 

As he leans against the wall. 

Of the stock of goods that was therein 

One or two I do remember 

W as candy in jars very thin 

On the twenty-fith of December. 

'Twas there I knew mother and father 

Sister and brother too, 

From time to time we did gather 

Pennies at the country store. 



45 



lime. 

On the banks of time we stand 
Looking in as humans can 
Who'll be next none of us know 
One by one we all must go. 

As we stand by gazing on 
Thinking of the ones that's gone 
In the stream of time they went « 
As on a mission they were sent. 

In the stream of time we see 
Great characters used to be 
They've been ushered out of sight 
Into one long silent night. 

They will never meet again 
While the evils dwell on land 
And the babies we hear cry 
They will soon bid us good-bye 

For the children soon or we 
In the stream of time must flee 
In the darkness we'll not hide 
If the Lord with us abide. 



46 



To The Front. 



If you happen to make good 
With your speech this Childrens Day 
You should then be more en couraged 
To the front to make your way 



If an error you should make 
In your speech this Children's Day 
You snould never be discouraged 
But the front press on your way. 



You should stop and think about men 
Who have stemmed the swelling tide 
Who have climbed the hills of progress 
Now thev're on the other side. 



Remember life and what it is 
Than we our very soul will give 
Trying to save the dear lost ones 
That they all again may live. 



47 



The S. C. Negroes Voice. 



The South Carolina Negroes voice 
Has in the nations ear been hoist 
Hear us South Carolina men 
We'll be a better people then. 



Is South Carolina built of units? 
If it is let all construct it, 
Let us merit what we get 
And we still will follow yet. 



The poor black man like other men 
Has his faults its natural then, 
Who's the man that has no fault? 
He's now sleeping in some vault. 



Let us magnify the good work 
Constantly and never shirk 
If you will the good deeds own 
The evils will soon be gone. 



48 



Truth 

If we would accept the truth 
As our guide in early youth 
Often would the days bring mirth 
Years would swiftly pass on earth. 

It would be a guiding star 
To all men who would not bar 
The light the sun out of their life 
And substitute with sin and strife. 

To know the truth and" live it then 
Should' be the cry of all'the^men 
Strife and sin be it far from me 
And buried in oblivion's sea. 



49 



The Church in South Carolina 

For the church in South Carolina 

This I give to you the sign ^ 

It stands as Gibralter strong 

To help those who&e way is wrong; 

The chur-ch here stands for forward movements 

And a leading element too 

Will you come and join the band 

Under God's omnipotent hand? 

The church stands for the salvation of men 

And the way is so plain that all men can 

If they will keep on as they are 

On the final day wear a crown of stars. 

No sin is so vile or so great 

That the church cannot help you get straight 

Will you come and join today? 

Its a dangerous risk to remain away. 



50 



It is the instrument of salvation 

Saved many a man seemed doomed to damnation 

On the other hand it is the daily talk 

How the church gets along without making a balk; 

Its the honoring of mothers and fathers at home 

That gives us a place on earth to own 

Its the plan of the Master who came to the earth 

To give every man and woman new birth. 

If the plan you'll accept believing it best 

A life filled with service will tell the rest 

The kings and kingdoms of this world shall fall 

And our King shall triumph over all. 

I'm now going to bring my story to its end 

I hope that some one will take refuge therein, 

join with the church to campaij^n 

And war against the great profane. 



51 



What We Have To Be 
Thankful For. 

I am glad that I'm a Negro 
I am glad I'm in the South 
History says that we are Heroes 
Let us remain in ihe South 

In the South our mother land 
Is the dearest place I know 
It is where we'll all join hands 
For the goal of success sure. 

The South I think is now converted 
Has found out the Negroes worth 
Some of its people have deserted 
South Carolina for the north. 

Still there are in our State 
Great numbers of the Negro race 
They are those who out-stripped fate 
And are keeping forward pace. 



52 



We believe the so-called problem 
Can be solved here in the South 
If all men will keep within 
The laws that gfovern every mouth. 

Problems die where progress starts 
Thinking men have found this out 
Any race whose men are smart 
Success ought they never doubt. 

For within the Negro race 
There are men for every work 
In the South we fill our place 
From our duty never shirk. 

We have wrought well in the Southland 
This our progress plainly tells 
Out of bondage in the land 
In the Southland doing well. 

South Carolina I love thee, 
With my pin I will not lie 
If you'll let us all be free 
In South Carolina I will die. 



53. 



When I Grow to be a Man. 

When I grow to be a man 
I want to do something if I can, 
Others will not be ashamed to do 
And to my church be loyal and tiue 

We are little leaders bold 
In sunshine rain or cold 
Striving for the Master's cause 
We shall never cease or pause 

As we go from day today 
Tramping on the miry way 
Let us join our hearts and hands 
In one holy happy land. 



54 




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